Went running around with my mother the other day. I can't remember what all we did, or even what we were talking about. How sad is that? It was only a couple of days ago.

Actually, I have good reason not to remember. Sitting at the Sonic, waiting on our drinks, she got me. I don't remember how we got around to it. Somehow the conversation had something to do with me being the product of my parents. That's when she got me.

"You know, you come from good stock."

Uh-huh..I was aware.

"Chicken stock."

Damn. Rarely does she zing me like that. I like to think it's because I think too fast for her.

My friend over at In the interest of... put up a post the other day that's been making me think. Damn, I kinda hate it when people do that to me. But, if anyone was going to do it, he makes the short list of those I don't mind so much.

All this thinking has stuck two things right smack in the middle of all my other thoughts. First, this Nickelback song Photograph. I like this song a lot, so it's okay that it's been running through my head non stop since Saturday. And I think it's funny that a lot of my students--I teach high school--don't like it at all. In fact, it's "stupid." I tell 'em everytime "you're just not old enough yet to appreciate it. They didn't write the song for your age group, it's for mine."

It's also sparked some (nonfiction) writing. So...here it is. Be honest--but be polite. I don't share my writing with just anyone.

I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. My parents still live there.

My mother would kill me if she knew I’d told you that.

Maybe I should explain. In my hometown, there is no “wrong” side of the tracks. There’s the side where everything is—grocery stores, banks, fast food joints—and the side where everything isn’t. It just happened that way, no particular reason. I grew up on the empty side.

When I was little, and the world consisted of school and the neighborhood, I didn’t notice or care. Kids are like that. Sixteen year olds are not. Suddenly, upon reaching that magic freedom age, the world multiplies in size. And living on the “wrong” side crimps your style. Inevitably, the people you want to pass your time with aren’t over “here.” No, they’re over “there” - with stuff to do and knowing glances.

Life lesson number one—you need to figure out on which side the world says you’re supposed to be. You don't have to agree, of course.

Ack...It's been almost 4 months since I posted anything here. Since I'm really, truly, very serious about writing...damn it, I've got to do it.

So..here we go.

Found a neat blog site. Poetry Thursday. It's a site that is dedicated to encouraging people to read and share poetry. Could be an original piece or someone else's published work (with copyright concerns being addressed, of course). I'll be participating every week by writing. I used to write poetry constantly, some of it was even pretty good. Let's see if I can accomplish that again.

I didn't get to spend today with my dad. He had to work, so I spent the day with mother and the Old Dog. We slept through a movie and then made red velvet mini-cakes (from scratch) for all of us.

I did, however, have some time to think about other fathers in my life. They aren't my father. Aren't even old enough to be my father, but I happen to think they are very good men and pretty damn good fathers. So...a note to all of the fathers in my circle of friends:

EQBeejTMand (the newest one) Bubba. (Who's bouncing baby boy opted to arrive 2 months early so he could make Mother's AND Father's Day this year rather than wait another 10-11 months for the next one to come around. This might be a sign of what's to come, you know?)

I know each of these people to be good at being men. They have that peculiar notion that you do what you say you'll do (I say peculiar, because it seems not all men have that) and I imagine this goes triple for anything involving their children. They've pushed themselves to be what they should be, upright and real adults. They are the kind of men that any child should consider themselves lucky to have as a father--I know I would have.

I have only one piece of advice for each of you. I actually gleaned it from the sermon this morning, but it's important. It was pointed out that children are most definitely products of their parents, and build their ideas and beliefs about life and faith from what parents teach and show them. We are who we are because of (or maybe in spite of) our parents. (I know, I know, you know this already, but bear with me.)

This is especially true when you look at their concepts of their fathers and of God. God looks a lot like "daddy" (or "grandpa") to lots of children. The characteristics and behaviors children associate with their fathers, they often associate with God. A loving father transfers into a belief in a loving God. A mean and vengeful father transfers into a fear of a vengeful God.

If I could ask any one thing of the fathers I know, it would be to foster a perception of a loving God in your children. I know you may already be doing this, but don't ever give your child reason to question you love them, and they'll have a much harder time questioning that God ever could. You're their first, best hope for knowing Jesus.

Okay, stepping away from the pulpit. Just know this, all of you--my life is better for having known each of you. I love you all, and pray for you and your families each day.

I love Sunday mornings. It's the only day, darn near every week, that I can guarantee a lazy start to the day. Even in the summer. They're beautiful.

I've been watching a lot of movies lately. Some I rented, some I've seen in theaters. Here's my take...

Aeon Flux: Weird show. I gather (now) that it has roots in some MTV cartoon series. It's an interesting story line, certainly keeps your attention, what with all the stunts and fighting. But, honestly, I give it a C+.

An Unfinished Life: The Jennifer Lopez/Robert Redford pic. It also has Josh Lucas in it, who is my current celebrity crush. Good movie, maybe a little contrived, but not bad. Beautiful scenery (and I don't just mean Josh *wink*). All in all, an A-.

Glory Road: Wow. This movie was amazing. I really enjoyed it. It's a great story, and I tell you what, just good stuff. The way Don Haskins chose to run his team in the '60s is an example of how things should be...but, sadly, aren't. A+.

The Break-Up: Hm..it was okay. Not worth the ticket price, and I even went to the matinee. Seems a little disjointed and rough-shod. I've seen both of them (Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn) do much better movies. B

The Lake House: I LOVED THIS MOVIE. Definitely buying this one when it comes out on DVD. Yes, you have suspend reality for a little bit, but isn't that why we watch feature films--to escape reality? But, wow, I really wouldn't mind a relationship that builds like that (minus the 2 year difference, of course). I saw that John Cusack was the first choice for the male lead. Thank goodness he turned it down, Keanu is definitely much better suited. And it's a PG movie--with Keanu Reeves in it. These don't come up very often. A+

Turned on the news this morning (note, it's only 5:43 at this point, and I've been up for nearly an hour. Wonder Dog had a nightmare and woke me up with his "scare the crap outta Mommy" bark).

Immediately, immediately, realized I had the wrong news show on. I never watch the NBC affiliate in the morning. The regular guy on there bothers me. I think he's plastic. I always watch the CBS one, I like those people better.

Anyway, blonde chick on NBC hit on 2 of my pet peeves in roughly 45 seconds. First--perky morning people. You can be bright and warm in the morning and not be perky. This is not cheerleading, you know? It's the news and you're talking about a auto-cow accident on the freeway. Come on.

Other thing--she pronounced a pretty well-known word. At least I think it is. In a report about a demonstration at a major Civil War battlefield site over the weekend, she mispronounced the name of the site not once, not twice, but 6 times. SIX TIMES.

Tell me, how do you pronounce the word "Antietam?" Take a wild guess how she did.

Got a bit freaked out this week. I found TWO black widow spiders in my entry way. I'm so glad that I saw them before the Wonder Dog did. As little as he is...well, that would've been bad. Did you know they bleed black? If it's not black, it's a really, really dark red.

Saw the video for Mary J. Blige's version of U2's "One." I missed her performance at the VH1 awards back in the spring, sometime. Seems like I remember Q blogging about it and he was singularly unimpressed, if I remember correctly. I have to tell you, I was too. The video includes U2. Even starts out with backlit shots of Bono singing. (I got excited, I really like this song and haven't seen a video for it in years). Then she starts singing and.....well, yeah. Sure.

I don't watch music videos very often. Generally, my trouble is that I don't have time in the mornings, which is apparently the only time VH1 or MTV (other than TRL) show videos. (I have to say, I'm pretty convinced both of those are the music stations for people who don't like music. It's way too easy to catch them showing something other than music.)

I like Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie." The song's fun, the video's fun. I like that she's not all made up like she usually is. I don't like that she doesn't credit the dude from the Fugees. That's just wrong.

Kelly Clarkson. I really don't like her. I did at first, when she first was doing stuff after American Idol (which I don't watch). She's turned into this trendy/tragic thing since. The music's ok...though how many times can you really repeat the same lines over and over (and over and over) and call it a song?